QBREES9

The Saints have re-signed defensive end Bobby McCray, according to a league source.

The Saints surprised the football-following world not long ago by cutting one-dimensional McCray, a good pass rusher, but who has trouble against the run. McCray's new deal has a base salary of $1.5 million with another $1 million available in incentives.

The move tends to confirm the opinion that the Saints made the move in late June because he was due to get a roster bonus of $1.25 million in early July, along with a $2 million base salary.
He is expected to battle former Bears defensive starter Alex Brown for a starting job. Brown became expendable in the offseason when they signed Julius Peppers.

The Saints took the risk that McCray would sign elsewhere and just like it did with with veteran safety Darren Sharper, everything worked out o\for the defending champs.

Not many, but some folks like the Saints' chances to repeat as Super Bowl champions.

The Saints are coming off a feel-good story, but Super Bowl champs rarely repeat.

WhartIFSports.com writes that the Saints should repeat as Super Bowl champs, a feat nobody has been able to achieve since 2002. The website predicts a 12-4 record for the "Drew Brees' arm should be insured by Lloyd's of London. Isn't it already. "

Andy Benoit, the founder of NFL Preview 2010 | Predictions & Projections | NFL Touchdown, predicts the Saints will win the NFC, but undefeated won't happen. "Talent-wise, the Saints should be around 13-3, 14-2, but we've seen how things for defending Super Bowl champions. One or two key injuries and this team could be looking at 9-7 again.

"Defensively, Gregg Williams knows he has mid-level talent, particularly in the front seven. But he also knows that aggressive, deceptive blitzing can mask a lot of flaws. The Saints defense is like the homely-looking guy who somehow gets the ladies by being a brash alpha male.

"Thanks to a standout secondary, Williams has been able to remove the hinges from his blitz-hungry scheme

"Perhaps the Saints should shoot for a perfect season. Most great teams avoid this kind of talk.
But we say this about every defending Super Bowl champ, don't we? We always think the defending champs can show how accomplish bigger and better things. The reality is, no team has won even won back-to-back titles since the 03'-'04 Patriots, let alone achieve perfection. Maybe this is where Sean Payton can begin his first motivational speech in 2010."

Evin Adrian of BleacherReport.com has the Saints at the Saints at 8-1 to win the Super Bowl, behind the Colts at 7-1.

"Sorry Saints fans, but I can't put your team first. A Super Bowl repeat is almost impossible, but Drew Brees is an elite quarterback who can succeed with any group of receivers.

"I would like to see them prove me wrong, but I don't see the Saints repeating this year. A Super Bowl berth, though, doesn't seem too far fetched."

We'd like to see your predictions for 2010. Email them to edcoachstaton@yahoo.com.

SAINTS TRANSACTIONS: The Saints signed center Matt Tennant, a fifth-round draft pick, to a four-year contract.

The Saints also cut linebacker Harry Coleman of LSU, linebacker Sam Maxwell, defensive end Brandon Sharpe and cornerback Marcell Young. All were signed as undrafted free agents earlier this year.


McCray married actress Khadijah Hagg in Los Angeles on July 17.
Saints teammates Reggie Bush and Jeremy Shockey were groomsmen and Khloe Kahashrian Odom was a bridesmaid. She is married to Lakers star Lamar Odom.

www.sportsshooter.com/johnjcoleman

" Anyone can take a picture Only a Photographer can take a photograph "

the-commish

The pundits are correct not to forecast the Saints to repeat, since it is rare.

But those of us who follow this team know that repeat is just what Sean Payton and Drew Brees have in mind; and I personally would not tell them that they can't do it.

The Saints have enough horses to win the NFC South, secure the no. 1 seed, and go to the Super Bowl again. And, if they do go to the Super Bowl, they would probably whip the AFC representative. I think the best NFC teams are now better than the best AFC teams.

SmashMouth

We now expect nothing less.... as long as we have Breesus and SP.

Srgt. Hulka

But we have to stay healthy.

strato

As long as we have Brees and Payton..we have a chance period!

foreverfan

Two Dat!

SaintFanInATLHELL

I'd have to add Gregg Williams and the Saints secondary to that list. Remember the dropoff when Porter and Greer were out late last season? When Sharper was hobbled?

We cannot yet depend on Jenkins and Robinson to hold the fort if the front line secondary goes down.

And without Williams' innovative schemes for pressuring the QB, there's no way the Saints defense can keep up with the turnover numbers they had last year.

Payton and Brees are a must. But they had 3 years together before they climbed the summit. The defense had to get better to support what the offense needed to do. Complimentary is the term that Payton and Williams tend to use.

We need that again to get deep into the playoffs and have a chance to win it all again.

SFIAH

Super Bowl Championships: New Orleans Saints:1, Carolina:0, Atlanta Chokers: STILL ZERO

Only Atlanta choked in an unchokable situation... Life is definitely good.

strato

I agree..good points..we did really suffer when our secondary was banged up..Dallas took advantage of that.. from the start of that game...Lets hope we can stay healthy all year..that would be the biggest key to a repeat